augustus low



(No Model.)

A. A. LOW.

TYPE GONTAINING CHANNEL. No. 360, 104. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

tiri- 1 r l mmfL M W l W N PETERS. Phom-Limogmpber, wnshmmnn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea.,

A. AUGUSTUS LOV, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALDEN TYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-CONTAINING CHANNEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,104, dated March 29. 1887.

Serial No. 195,866. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. AUcUsrUs Low, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Type-Containing Channels, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the special construction of the type-channels in which the types are arranged in a prescribed position for use in conjunction with the class of type setting and distributing apparatus set forth in Patents Nos.230,784, 254,019, 263,707, 264,084, 264,085, 268,409, 271,711, 275,664, 279,168, and 282,988.

In the method of handling types to which my invention appertains the types are deposf ited successively into the ends of their respect- 2O ive containing-channels,,while the latter rest with their backs or spines upon the table or bed of the distributing apparatus, each line of type being forwarded within its channel as succeeding types are received. rIhe forwarding of the types is usually accomplished by a reciprocating pusher at the receiving end of the channel acting against the resistance of the column of type and that afforded by a slug or movable support which precedes and sustains the types in the required upright position.

In my application No. 192,493 I describe and claim a means for eounteracting the retractile tendency or backlash of the types in the containing-channel, consisting of a semielastic section or surface arranged upon one of the side walls of the type-channel.

It will be unnecessary to describe herein more definitely the nature and causes of backlash, since by reference to the said application No. 192,493, and to No. 156,604, filed February 14, 1885, the state of the art will be disclosed.

In mylast application one form of the semielastic surface was shown as formed of a piece of string threaded through holes in one side wall of the channel in such manner as to project slightly into the path of or against the sides of the types and gently press or crowd 5'0 them over toward and against the opposite side wall of the channel. I have found by eX- periment that this form of semi-elastic anti. backlash is not only the simplest and cheapest, but is also the most effective form of antibacklash in use. I also find that by allowing the string to rest loosely within the channel, the outer end only being secured to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the string in the direetionof theline of motion of the types, I increase the effectiveness ofthe deviee,since 6o the string or cord is then free to kink up or pucker slightly under any retraetile movement or pressure in the column of type, thereby increasing the resistance offered to the passage of the type in that direction without interfering with or increasing the normal resistance afforded to the advance of the types in the other and legitimate direction; but in order to insure this result and avoid any tendency of the types to work upward vertically, as 7n they are liable to do if the string does not extend parallel to the iioor of the channel, it is desirable, when iirst starting to distribute into a channel, and until a column of type an inch or two long has been formed, to guide and sustain the inner or free portion or end of the string or cord in the required alignment by means that, while they are positive in this respect, will not interfere with or prevent the puckering or kinking of the cord under back- 8o pressure. I accomplish this by forming a groove parallel to the length of the channel in the side of the slug or type preceding and sustaining device, which groove is adapted to receive and sustain the adjoining portion of the cord, confining the latter between itself and the side wall of the channel and lift-ing its free end up and feeding it to the succeeding types, as required by their advancement. By this means the perfect alignment ofthe full length 9o of the cord is attained before the slug passes beyond it, after which the types themselves, owing to their movement longitudinally through the channel, will successively preserve sueh proper relation of parts. 9g,

In my last application, No. 192,498, above referred to, the semi-elastic anti-backlash is used upou one side wall only ofthe type-containing channel.

For the purpose of more perfectly guiding roo and sustaining the smaller sizes and thick- Y nesses of types, I in the present case provide each side wall of the type-channel with a section of semi-elastic material, the two being opfl posed to each other, so as to subject the types to an equal degree of friction or pressure upon each side. 'Where these sections are both formed of the loose string or cord, arranged and operating as hereinbefore mentioned, the opposite sides of the slug are formed with corresponding parallel grooves for the reception and guidance of either cord.

Another feature of my inventionin connection with the slug consists in forming the latter with one or more grooves adapted to hold in position a loop or hand of rubber, cord, or other elastic or semi-elastic material, for the purpose of increasing the frictional contact of the said slug with the side wall or walls ofthe type-containing channel. VVhen the latter is formed with a high and a low Wall, as is usual inthe class of type-chan nels herein referred to,

n 4the cord or band is situated above the position of the upper edge of the lower side wall of the channel, and is arranged to project. outward beyond the surface of the slug only upon one vside of thelatter, so that by reversing the slug in position within the channel, as required, its frictional contact with the upper side wall thereof may be increased or diminished. I am aware that a similar result is obtained in the slug shown and described in the patent to L. K. Johnson, No. 230,784, dated August 3, 1880; but in that case a flat metal spring riveted tothe slug is employed. My object in this connection is to simplify and veheapen the construction of the device, and Ido not seek to cover a friction-slug broadly.

An important feature of my present invention consists in forming the iloor or bottom of the receiving end of the type-containing channel with a soft or semi-elastic receiving surface `or cushion, against which the heels of the descending types will strike.

Heretofore the types have descended directly upon the metallic bottoms or spines of the channels, and since they fall vertically, or nearly so, and some of them from a height of between two and three inches, they have been liable to rebound to such an extent as to endanger their' proper alignment or relative position within the channel. It is obviously of importance that the types .should be handled as gently as possible, not only to avoid unneeessary wear, but also in order to prevent their turning upon their longitudinal axes, and by decreasing the j ar or reaction at this point to the minimum degree I insure a more perfect and even line of type within the channel,

` and obviate the occurrence therein of turned that end, the said beads or ribs being eor- 'i rugated or otherwise roughened transversely (or vertically) to augment frictional contact with the types. I do not, however, seek to cover herein, broadlyythe use of these internal beads or ribs, as I elsewhere, in my application No. 201,104, claim one or more speciallyarranged horizontal ribs at the receiving end of the channel, the special construction I seek to cover herein being the formation of the ribs with a roughened surface, consisting of lateral corrugations or their equivalent. I am also aware that in my application No. 201,105 the greater portion of the side wall of the channel is bent inward; but that is for the purpose of obtaining channels of maximum width externally, having continuous narrow internal typepassages.

In the accompanying drawings, in the first three figures 'of which portions of a reeipro# eating pusher and a vertical type-conduit are shown by way ofillustration, Figure 1 is a side elevation of atype-containing channel embodying myimprovements, the central portion be'- p ing broken away; Fig. 2, a longitudinal'section through 'the saine, showing the slug or type-preceder in elevation; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the receiving end of the channel and adjoining portion of a vertical Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of thegrooved slug and type-preceder; Fig, S, an end view of the same; Fig. 9, a top view of one eX- tremity of the typecontaining channel, a portion of each side wall being broken away to show the interior projections in section; and Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of a slug, showing a form of groove which is less in depth at one extremity than at the other.

The type-containing channel A is formed from sheet metal struck up into the required form by suitable dies, as heretofore. It is preferably formed with a high wall, a, and a low wall, a', for the purpose of exposing the heads of the types, 85e., as set forth in pre vious application. The receiving ende2 of the channel-that which engages with the vertical conduit and vibrating pusher in the distributing apparatus-is formed with walls a3 f, of equal height. The height of these receiving end walls, e" a", is regulated with relation to'the position of the-vibrating pusher P when the channel is in the distributing apparatus. r

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which a portion of the reciprocating pusher P is shown by way of illustrating the relative positions of the parts referred to, that the upper edges ofthe end walls, ai a4, pass underneath the pusher, and thereby allow the IOC lIO

latter to forward the types the required'distance with the channel, it being understood that the pusher P is a simple straight edge or plate without the usual comb-teeth or pusherngers.

The door or bottom or the receiving end of the channel A is provided with a cushion or receiving surface, B, of a comparatively softor semi-elastic material. There arealarge variety of substances that may be used for this purpose, and their mode of application or attaehment to the channel may be varied; but for the sake of illustration, and without designing to confine myself to the special construction shown in this respect, l have shown in the drawings a simple arrangement in which a band or section of tape or braid, b, of a Width equal to about that of theinterior of the channel, is passed through a hole, b', in the floor or spine of the channel, and its ends tied together at the end thereof. Vhere this means is employed the free ends ofthe tape or braid I) may be formed into a loop, b2, by which the channel may be suspended.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the cushion B is directly in the path of the heels of the types as they descendfrom the vertical conduit C.

Cords D D are attached to the side walls, a a', of the channel A,just back of its receiving end a2, and at a height approximating that of the middle of the types when upright within the channel. These cords may be attached in any suitable or convenient manner. As shown in the drawings, one extremity of each cord is simply knotted, while the other or free ends are passed through perforations d, formed in the side walls of the channel, and rest loosely therein.

The slug or typepreceder S is formed with the grooves s s upon either side, which coineide in position, when the slug S is opposite within the channel, with the holes or perforations d in the side walls ot' the channel, and consequently with the fixed ends ot' the cords D D. The grooves s s are parallel with the iioor or bottom of the channel A.

Preparatory to distributing into the typechannel A, the cords areinserted in the grooves s s in the slug, and thc latterl deposited in the channel in position to receive and sustain the first types distributed. As the types increase in number and the line in length, the slug gradually raises the loose or Al'ree ends of the cords D D and insures their proper alignment with relation to the channel and the types. rlhe slug S is also formed, near its upper edge, with one or more grooves, s s, parallel to the grooves s s, for the reception of a band of rubber or string, t, or other elastic or semi-elastic material, which, by its contact with the side wall ot' the channel, will tend to retard the movement ofthe slug.

Vhere a channel having both a high and a low wallis used, as in the accompanying drawings, one ofthe grooves s upon one side of the slug S is made sufliciently deep to receive the thickness ofthe cord tbodily, while the corresponding groove upon the opposite side of the slug is either omitted or made very shallow,so as to cause the cord t upon that side to protrude more or less beyond the surface of the slug. By this means a reversible friction-slug is formed, since by turning the side upon which the cord t protrudes to the side. of the channel upon which the short wall a is situated the cord t will be entirely free of either side wall, while by reversing the slug S the projecting portion ot' the cord t is brought inte contact with the upper portion of the taller slde wall, a, and by its compression between the latter and the slug augments the resistance atforded against the movement ot' the slug in either direction.

The extremity of the containing-channel A, opposite the receiving end,is formed with one or more beads, e e, which project inward and are preferably roughened or corrugated, to afford a resisting-surface to the escape of the slug or types at that end of the channel. The same end ot the channel is also formed with a slot,f, in the floor or spine,for the purpose of affording a means of suspending the channel upon a hook or other support, when desired. The beads or corrugations e extend longitudi nally within the channel.

The grooves s may be formed in the ends of the slug S, instead of the sides, it' preferred.

The grooves s may be inclined to the length ofthe slug S, as shown in Fig. itl-that is to say, one extremity of the groove s is made shallower than the rest of the groove, for the purpose of pinching the cord more eectively at that point against the sidewall ofthe containingehanncl.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A typeeontaining channel, substantially such as designated, provided with a typcre ceiving surface formed of a soft er semi-elastic material, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. A type-containingchannel, substantially such as described, both walls of which are provided with a semi-elastic type holding and sustaining material, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. In a type-containing channel, substantially such as designated, a type holding and retarding device consisting of a string or cord secured at one end to the side wall of the channel, while the other reststreely therein,tor the purpose and substantially in the manuel-shown and described.

4. In combination with a type-containing channel, substantially as described, provided with one or more type-retaining cords arranged substantially as described, a type preeeder or slug formed with one or more grooves for the reception and guidance of the said cord or cords, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

5. In combination with a typeecontaining channel, substantially such as herein dcsig nated, a slug formed with one or more grooves IIS 7. A type-'containing channel, substantially such as herein designated, formed at one eX- tremity with one or more inwardly-projecting beads or longitudinal ribs, which are corrugated 01' otherwise roughened transversely, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.

A.' AUGUSTUS LoW.

Witnesses: GEO. W. MIATT, WM. GARDNER.

I f, i 

